My name is Huangfu Shu. I’m ten years old this year. Both Father Emperor and Mother Empress call me Shu’er, and I really like my name. However, my damnable brother Huangfu Ying never calls me by my name—he calls me Chicken Granny.
Just because I once said that when I grow up and venture into the martial world, I want to use Father Emperor’s original surname “Ji.” Just because I like disguising myself as an old granny.
Of course, I’m not angry that he gave me the nickname Chicken Granny. This princess is very magnanimous. But what I can’t stand is that his nickname is Pearl Fox.
This nickname wasn’t one he gave himself—it was given by his masters, because he’s far too cunning. Pearl implies smoothness, fox implies cunning, so Pearl Fox means a smooth fox. I absolutely refuse to admit that Pearl Fox actually means a noble fox.
I’m a chicken, he’s a fox—isn’t this blatant bullying?
What kind of older brother is he anyway? He’s only older than me by less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick. Mother Empress told me that when I was born, I was pitifully thin and small, while he was plump and fair. I strongly suspect that even when we were still in Mother Empress’s womb, he was already bullying me. That’s why I was born so thin, why I didn’t manage to be born before him, why I had to settle for being the younger one, and why he pinches my cheeks every day making me call him big brother.
In terms of martial arts, I really can’t beat him. He has a whole bunch of masters—Mother Empress’s four personal guards and Father Emperor’s former two great scholars are all his masters.
I don’t have many masters, just three: Physician Gui who teaches me medical arts, General Tang Yu who teaches me poison techniques, and one master who teaches me disguise.
Mealtime arrived. Father Emperor and Mother Empress weren’t in the palace today. The palace maids were busy bringing dishes to the table, and I went over to help serve as well. At this moment, I had already disguised myself as a young palace maid—no one could recognize me.
While serving food, I deliberately put poison in Fox Brother’s bowl. This poison was something I had just developed today, and I wasn’t quite sure what it would feel like when it took effect.
I watched Fox eat his meal leisurely, laughing triumphantly in my heart. Only when he had almost finished did I go out to quietly remove my disguise and return to eat.
But I had only eaten half my meal when my stomach started hurting. It was tingly and itchy—not very painful, but so uncomfortable that I couldn’t bear it. I dropped my bowl and wanted to roll around on the ground. Beside me, Fox sighed softly: “Those who harm others end up harming themselves!”
I suddenly understood—he had switched our bowls. It seemed his movements really were fast, faster than my eyes could follow.
“How did you know I poisoned you?” I asked in confusion, clutching my stomach.
Fox crossed his arms and smiled: “The little palace maid you disguised yourself as today is originally a head taller than you.”
I had forgotten to step on stilts inside my skirt—such an oversight!
“That’s not right. When I disguised myself as this little palace maid before, I didn’t step on stilts either. How come you didn’t see through it then?” I asked even more confused.
“When big brother was bored, I was just playing along with you. Today was giving you a small punishment,” Fox said, smiling as he looked at me. The expression in his eyes and brows was becoming more and more like Father Emperor’s.
Getting poisoned to play with me—is this really Fox Brother? I really suspected he was someone else in disguise. I couldn’t help reaching out to pinch his face. Fox’s face immediately darkened, exactly like Father Emperor’s. Every time Mother Empress finished teasing Father Emperor or pinched his face, Father Emperor would have this same expression.
“Antidote?” Seeing me clutching my stomach in discomfort, he frowned and asked.
Cold sweat was breaking out on my forehead from the pain. I said pitifully, “I haven’t developed the antidote yet.”
Fox ground his teeth: “No antidote, and you still dared to let big brother test your poison?” His distinct black and white eyes glanced at me disdainfully. He reached out to lift me from the chair and sealed several acupoints on my body. The painful sensation immediately disappeared.
Actually, I knew this poison of mine couldn’t really harm anyone—it would just make people uncomfortable for a while. How could I really want to poison Fox to death? He’s my brother after all. However, Fox performed well today, actually channeling his internal energy to reduce my pain and carrying me to Master Tang Yu to get the poison neutralized.
“Big brother is going to venture into the martial world. If you listen to big brother, big brother will take you along!” Fox blinked his eyelashes seductively.
“I’ll listen, I’ll listen!” I shouted urgently. Venturing into the martial world! Fox was actually using such a tempting condition to lure me. From now on, we’re reconciled.
“Good. Then while Father Emperor and Mother Empress aren’t here, let’s leave right now!” Fox looked around sneakily and pulled me as we quietly left the palace.
Of course, I actually knew that my masters and Fox’s masters were all hiding in the shadows following us. But as long as they didn’t show themselves, we were too lazy to pay attention to them.
Fox and I wandered the martial world for several months—very pleasant and carefree. But what made me most furious was that the name Chicken Granny had also become famous in the martial world.
“Don’t you think the name Chicken Granny is very cute?” Fox said with a grin.
Yes, cute—provided it’s not compared with Pearl Fox.